It may be a bit of a hike, but all the way out here, it’s so much easier to snag the good stuff when it hits the stores (in other words… I love you, small town Target, and your designer collections too).
For that, I’d take a little longer commute any day of the week.
Sweater: Prabal Gurung for Target / Skirt: Vintage (similar) / Shoes: Ralph Lauren / Earrings: Kate Spade (similar)
That happened this weekend…
1 // We marveled at the superhuman ridiculousness of elite crossfitters and giggled (I may have giggled the most) at the, well, just ridiculousness of elite bodybuilders… I know it’s a lot of work guys — really, I have so much respect — but you look like unusually athletic oompa loompas.
2 // It snowed, morning to night. All day and then some… and not a single flake stuck. What are you, Ohio?
I’m not sure if this is the best or worst thing to ever happen to snow… it was like a white fluffy mirage.
3 // This was the first thing we saw when we crossed into Ohio. I think it speaks for itself.
4 // We ate chips and salsa in bed while downloading a movie that, for all I know, may still be downloading. It took all night.
5// We learned how obsessively long people will wait in line to get a picture with a well oiled body builder or spandex clad fitness model (oh but of course we can’t forget the free t-shirt).
And by marathons, I mean the television variety. There is one really great thing to be said about a day home sick, and that’s making it through the entire first season of Downton Abbey. I know I’m way late to this train, but I have to say I’m thoroughly hooked. Are you watching?
This weekend we’re headed to Ohio for the Arnold (as in Schwarzenegger) Classic. Mark has wanted to go as long as I’ve known him but we’ve never been able to make it. I don’t suppose you all have any recommendations for what else to see in Columbus? I’d love to hear them if you do.
Have a lovely weekend! Here are a few things I’m loving this week…
This invitation suite and its lovely color palette.
This vegan clutch on etsy.
This roundup of the best ways to wear a pop of color now.
Bit obsessed with Jennifer Lawrence after this. And did you see this? How great is she?
Maintaining and growing a small blog with pride.
Do you know about Mealku? What a great idea!
Mark and I almost never do gifts on Valentines Day… we have a fantastic dinner and tell each other how crazy happy the other one makes us, and then we go home and curl up with our little dog, just like every other night.
But this year he surprised me and came home with two shiny, not at all new records (vinyl I mean… the good stuff). He knows how obsessed I am with their sound and how much I want to build our collection, but because life is busy I’ve barely gotten a start… so that sweet sweet man who knows me so well brought me two albums from two of my very favorites… Bob Dylan and Freddie Mercury. The boys are an offbeat pair, but to me… they are perfection. I’ve been listening to the two albums over and over since and on vinyl my god those voices… they really do shine.
First things first. What draws your eye? Not all photographers are the same. Visit a variety of wedding blogs to get an idea of what you really love, then search for photographers with a similar style.
Think about your budget (but don’t let that discourage you). Are you crazy for Jose Villa and Tec Petaja? Search for a photographer who shoots film. Do you want to emulate Max Wanger’s quirky brilliance or Our Labor of Love’s vintage beauty? There is a photographer out there for every budget. You might not get a carbon copy of the famous photog you love, but you can look to replicate the qualities that drew you to them in the first place.
A Thousand Threads is a wedding and lifestyle blog, but at its core, it’s really just about me (I’m selfish that way). I share the things I love and the things I do… but there are a couple of big pieces of me that I usually leave out.
The first is my political side, because honestly, I get plenty of that at work. I came to blogging to have a chance to write about the other things, and to learn about how to write about the other things. So, for now at least, I’m keeping those two apart.
The second is my love of running. But, to tell you the truth, I’m really not sure why I’ve left this one out. It’s a huge part of my life. Waking up early (forcing myself out of bed), training a little longer, running a little faster… chasing a distant goal. I love the stuff like crazy… but for some reason I’m not sharing it with all of you.
The thing is that, until now, I haven’t quite felt that it fit. But when I think about it, a part of that feels so wrong.
It feels wrong because even though this is a blog about weddings and fashion and food… loving those things doesn’t automatically negate the rest. But, as a rule… it does. It’s so rare that we let the two mix.
I would love to know more about my favorite lifestyle bloggers’ other interests. I’m sure there are a few that would surprise me! I’m so inspired by the perfect little families, the beautiful homes, the gorgeous clothes… but what do they do when they just want to let it all go… to slip away and de-stress? It’s not quite the things I’m afraid to tell you – it’s more like the things I just… don’t.
But why doesn’t it fit? After all, it’s me. If I had the option to do nothing else, I would run and bake, run and bake… write it all down and then start all over again. (I might have a horse too, but that’s a given — one of these days I promise I’ll tell you all about my rodeo queen past.) There is nothing else in the world that I love to do more than those things. They are the moments that feed my soul.
So here I go. I’m going to start to share. It’s probably a more personal part of me than I’ve shown in the past, because running really is my escape… my chance to clear my brain, to block out the noise and just go… it’s the place where I’ve found the answers to my most pressing questions, and the inspiration for my favorite plans. It’s not just a running thing… but it is my thing.
It’s the thing that works for me.
So what about you? Do you have something you do to escape and de-stress? Is it something I would guess, or is it way out of left field? We all have something.
Photo from my very first marathon in Philly.
♪♪ “One of these things…” ♪
I didn’t intend for it to be this way, really, it just happened… but, clearly, one of these things is not like the other (thanks Big Bird). This time of the year feels so stunted, stuck somewhere in between the winter and the spring… still too cold to lounge outside in the sun, but so close you can taste it?
My brain doesn’t know which way to go, but I do have to admit that one thing getting me through these last few weeks of winter is definitely the excitement of awards season. Can you barely wait for the Oscars this Sunday? Who do you think will win big?
I can’t wait to curl up in a nice big blanket with one of the last toasty warm drinks of winter to watch.
Here are a few things I’m loving this week, both warm and cold…
These gorgeous wool hats.
A constant source of inspiration, these two.
I’m fascinated by this tasty looking gin & tarragon cocktail.
Jose Villa, maybe you’ve heard of him? The hasselblad gets me every time.
This furniture I’m coveting.
Elvis Costello and the Roots (!!).
This spicy grapefruit margarita (so many good drinks this week… I think the rest of you are with me here on this sunshine thing).
And, in honor of the Oscars, this awesome movie mashup.
… and 10 best picture winners that should have lost (what do you think? do you agree?).
We used our extra long weekend to go for long walks, longer drives, and catch up with old friends. I was hoping to get into a little early spring cleaning, but the whole thing panned out so nicely that I never had the time. We caught up on a couple of movies (Wreck it Ralph, then Skyfall… did you see them? I loved them both.) and a little bit of work. But mostly, we took plenty of time to cozy up and keep warm at home.
Of course… we may have wandered out once or twice for a second helping of the corn beef here. We’ve just recently discovered it, and the knowledge that it exists just can’t be unlearned.
I have a feeling that’s going to be very bad news for us both.
Scarf: Abercrombie (similar) / Jacket: Vintage (similar-ish) / Sweater: Madewell (similar) / Jeans: Miss Sixty (similar) / Shoes: Plenty by Tracy Reese (similar)
Eye // This 19th century grange/my dream home.
Buy // Everlane silk shirts.
Make // A DIY feather wreath.
Bake // An orange cardamom yogurt cake.
If there’s one thing I do love about winter (okay well if there’s one thing I love about all things) it’s the food. And when it comes to the frosty winter months, chili is the best. There’s nothing like it to warm cold bones… and now that we’ve finally started to feel some of that cold, I’m craving it more than ever.
This recipe is time intensive, but most of that time takes place in a crock pot… and the prep is more than worth it.
And be sure to try it with rice — do you eat your chili with rice? I’d never tried it that way before I met Mark and it makes all the difference!
Life, love, and the little things… one thread at a time.
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